Latest news with #MinnesotaDemocratic–Farmer–LaborParty
West Australian
18 hours ago
- Politics
- West Australian
US lawmaker and husband shot dead at their home in ‘politically motivated assassination', another politician and wife injured
A massive search continued Saturday for a 57-year-old Minnesota man, hours after an early-morning attack that left a Democratic Minnesota lawmaker and her husband dead and a second Democratic lawmaker and his wife injured in separate 'politically motivated' shootings, authorities said. On Saturday afternoon, Minnesota Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson identified the shooting suspect as Vance Boelter. Jacobson described him as 6-foot-1 with brown hair, wearing a light-colored cowboy hat and a dark long-sleeve collared shirt or coat. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: US lawmaker and husband shot dead in their home. Jacobson urged the public not to approach Boelter if they see him. 'You should consider him armed and dangerous, and you should call 911 immediately,' Jacobson said. Officials say the suspected gunman impersonated law enforcement wearing a vest, blue long-sleeve shirt, and what looked like a badge to gain access to the legislators' homes. NBC News has obtained several new photos investigators in Minnesota believe they have found of Boelter at the home of at least one victim. Two of the photos show a man at the door of a home in a long-sleeve shirt and what appears to be a vest that looks similar to the bulletproof vests often worn by law enforcement. One of the photos obtained by NBC News appears to match an image the FBI released on X, showing a man at the door but zoomed in closer to his face and less pixelated. It appears the man may have been wearing a mask or a bald cap, based on the creases on his face. Another photo is a blurry image of a man walking alone and wearing a cowboy hat, similar to a photo shown by law enforcement at a press conference identifying Boelter. Investigators towed an SUV allegedly belonging to the suspect that either looks like or is a police vehicle — equipped with flashing lights, ramming bumper, spotlight and more. State Rep. Melissa Hortman of Brooklyn Park and her husband, Mark, were killed in 'what appeared to be a politically motivated assassination,' Gov. Tim Walz said at a news conference Saturday. State Sen. John Hoffman of Champlin and his wife, Yvette, were severely injured, Walz said. They remain hospitalised and their conditions were not immediately available. Both lawmakers were members of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party and their respective homes are located about eight miles apart, in the suburbs north of Minneapolis. 'This was an act of targeted political violence,' Walz said. 'Peaceful discourse is the foundation of our democracy. We don't settle our differences with violence or at gunpoint.' NBC News spoke to a Minnesota Democratic legislator who said they were 'beyond devastated' by the shootings. They said they were currently in hiding and safe and asked not to be named out of fear for their safety. The shootings are the latest in a string of seemingly lone-wolf politically motivated violence. Last year, there were two assassination attempts against President Donald Trump during his 2024 presidential campaign. The first was at a rally in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, in July by a 20-year-old named Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was killed by a Secret Service sharpshooter. Ryan Routh, 59, has been charged on suspicion of assassination attempt after being found camping out with a firearm where Trump was golfing in West Palm Beach, Florida, in September. He has pleaded not guilty and faces trial later this year. In other acts of violence, in January a soldier detonated a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas. In April, a suspect set fire to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's home over his position on Israel and Palestinians. In May, two Israeli embassy staffers were shot dead outside Washington, DC's Capital Jewish Museum. Also in May, a car bombing outside a California fertility clinic killed one person, inspired by anti-natalist ideologies. Saturday's shootings came on the same day as sweeping rallies were planned nationwide, including in Minnesota, in opposition to Trump and organised under the slogan 'No Kings.' In the evening, a major parade is also being held in Washington, DC, in honor of the Army's 250th birthday, coinciding with Trump's 79th birthday. The 'No Kings' event in northeast Minnesota was canceled, and Minnesota State Patrol asked people to stay away from public demonstrations while a suspect is on the loose. Fliers were found inside the suspect's vehicle with the writing, 'No Kings,' police said in a photo shared on X, though it is unclear if there is any connection to the protests. 'Given the targeted shootings of state lawmakers overnight, we are asking the public to not attend today's planned demonstrations across Minnesota out of an abundance of caution,' the state patrol said. Police responded to Hoffman's home in Champlin at about 2 a.m. Law enforcement in Brooklyn Park then went to check 'proactively' on Hortman at her home since she is also a lawmaker in the area, Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said at Saturday's news conference. What appeared to be bullet holes were found on the home's red front door. Around 3:35 a.m., Brooklyn Park police officers encountered an individual who 'immediately fired at them,' said Drew Evans, the superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. They exchanged gunfire before the suspect fled out of the back of the house, authorities said. Bruley said they found a 'manifesto' inside the suspect's vehicle and with the names of other lawmakers and officials. It's unclear who is on the list. The list targeted prominent pro-choice individuals in Minnesota, including many Democratic lawmakers who have been outspoken about pro-choice policy positions, an official who has seen the list told NBC News. Law enforcement agencies in Minnesota were at locations of those individuals to provide security and protection while the investigation into any potential list is ongoing, according to a senior law enforcement official. 'We have people of interest that we are looking for,' Bruley said. President Donald Trump said Saturday morning that he was briefed on the shooting and that Attorney General Pam Bondi and the FBI are assisting in the investigation. 'They will be prosecuting anyone involved to the fullest extent of the law,' Trump said in a statement. 'Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America.' Hortman, 55, a former State House speaker, was a DFL leader who co-authored several pieces of legislation this session, including a constitutional amendment guaranteeing equal rights under the law to all individuals and a bill condemning Trump's pardons of violent Jan. 6 offenders. Hoffman is the chief author of an omnibus bill this session that touched on issues such as aging and older adult services. In a social media post, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., called the shootings 'a stunning act of violence.' 'I'm thankful for all the law enforcement who are responding in real time,' she wrote on X. 'My prayers are with the Hortman and Hoffman families. Both legislators are close friends and devoted to their families and public service.' Former Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords, a shooting survivor who now advocates for gun safety, said she was 'horrified and heartbroken' by the latest violence against lawmakers. 'An attack against lawmakers is an attack on American democracy itself,' she said in a statement. 'Leaders must speak out and condemn the fomenting violent extremism that threatens everything this country stands for.' The Brooklyn Park Police Department issued a shelter-in-place alert Saturday morning for an area surrounding the Edinburgh Golf Course in its quest for a suspect, NBC affiliate KARE 11 reported.
7NEWS
20 hours ago
- Politics
- 7NEWS
US lawmaker and husband shot dead at their home in ‘politically motivated assassination', another politician and wife injured
A massive search continued Saturday for a 57-year-old Minnesota man, hours after an early-morning attack that left a Democratic Minnesota lawmaker and her husband dead and a second Democratic lawmaker and his wife injured in separate 'politically motivated' shootings, authorities said. On Saturday afternoon, Minnesota Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson identified the shooting suspect as Vance Boelter. Jacobson described him as 6-foot-1 with brown hair, wearing a light-colored cowboy hat and a dark long-sleeve collared shirt or coat. Jacobson urged the public not to approach Boelter if they see him. 'You should consider him armed and dangerous, and you should call 911 immediately,' Jacobson said. Officials say the suspected gunman impersonated law enforcement wearing a vest, blue long-sleeve shirt, and what looked like a badge to gain access to the legislators' homes. NBC News has obtained several new photos investigators in Minnesota believe they have found of Boelter at the home of at least one victim. Two of the photos show a man at the door of a home in a long-sleeve shirt and what appears to be a vest that looks similar to the bulletproof vests often worn by law enforcement. One of the photos obtained by NBC News appears to match an image the FBI released on X, showing a man at the door but zoomed in closer to his face and less pixelated. It appears the man may have been wearing a mask or a bald cap, based on the creases on his face. Another photo is a blurry image of a man walking alone and wearing a cowboy hat, similar to a photo shown by law enforcement at a press conference identifying Boelter. Investigators towed an SUV allegedly belonging to the suspect that either looks like or is a police vehicle — equipped with flashing lights, ramming bumper, spotlight and more. State Rep. Melissa Hortman of Brooklyn Park and her husband, Mark, were killed in 'what appeared to be a politically motivated assassination,' Gov. Tim Walz said at a news conference Saturday. State Sen. John Hoffman of Champlin and his wife, Yvette, were severely injured, Walz said. They remain hospitalised and their conditions were not immediately available. Both lawmakers were members of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party and their respective homes are located about eight miles apart, in the suburbs north of Minneapolis. 'This was an act of targeted political violence,' Walz said. 'Peaceful discourse is the foundation of our democracy. We don't settle our differences with violence or at gunpoint.' NBC News spoke to a Minnesota Democratic legislator who said they were 'beyond devastated' by the shootings. They said they were currently in hiding and safe and asked not to be named out of fear for their safety. The shootings are the latest in a string of seemingly lone-wolf politically motivated violence. Last year, there were two assassination attempts against President Donald Trump during his 2024 presidential campaign. The first was at a rally in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, in July by a 20-year-old named Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was killed by a Secret Service sharpshooter. Ryan Routh, 59, has been charged on suspicion of assassination attempt after being found camping out with a firearm where Trump was golfing in West Palm Beach, Florida, in September. He has pleaded not guilty and faces trial later this year. In other acts of violence, in January a soldier detonated a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas. In April, a suspect set fire to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's home over his position on Israel and Palestinians. In May, two Israeli embassy staffers were shot dead outside Washington, DC's Capital Jewish Museum. Also in May, a car bombing outside a California fertility clinic killed one person, inspired by anti-natalist ideologies. Saturday's shootings came on the same day as sweeping rallies were planned nationwide, including in Minnesota, in opposition to Trump and organised under the slogan 'No Kings.' In the evening, a major parade is also being held in Washington, DC, in honor of the Army's 250th birthday, coinciding with Trump's 79th birthday. The 'No Kings' event in northeast Minnesota was canceled, and Minnesota State Patrol asked people to stay away from public demonstrations while a suspect is on the loose. Fliers were found inside the suspect's vehicle with the writing, 'No Kings,' police said in a photo shared on X, though it is unclear if there is any connection to the protests. 'Given the targeted shootings of state lawmakers overnight, we are asking the public to not attend today's planned demonstrations across Minnesota out of an abundance of caution,' the state patrol said. Police responded to Hoffman's home in Champlin at about 2 a.m. Law enforcement in Brooklyn Park then went to check 'proactively' on Hortman at her home since she is also a lawmaker in the area, Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said at Saturday's news conference. What appeared to be bullet holes were found on the home's red front door. Around 3:35 a.m., Brooklyn Park police officers encountered an individual who 'immediately fired at them,' said Drew Evans, the superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. They exchanged gunfire before the suspect fled out of the back of the house, authorities said. Bruley said they found a 'manifesto' inside the suspect's vehicle and with the names of other lawmakers and officials. It's unclear who is on the list. The list targeted prominent pro-choice individuals in Minnesota, including many Democratic lawmakers who have been outspoken about pro-choice policy positions, an official who has seen the list told NBC News. Law enforcement agencies in Minnesota were at locations of those individuals to provide security and protection while the investigation into any potential list is ongoing, according to a senior law enforcement official. 'We have people of interest that we are looking for,' Bruley said. President Donald Trump said Saturday morning that he was briefed on the shooting and that Attorney General Pam Bondi and the FBI are assisting in the investigation. 'They will be prosecuting anyone involved to the fullest extent of the law,' Trump said in a statement. 'Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America.' Hortman, 55, a former State House speaker, was a DFL leader who co-authored several pieces of legislation this session, including a constitutional amendment guaranteeing equal rights under the law to all individuals and a bill condemning Trump's pardons of violent Jan. 6 offenders. Hoffman is the chief author of an omnibus bill this session that touched on issues such as aging and older adult services. In a social media post, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., called the shootings 'a stunning act of violence.' 'I'm thankful for all the law enforcement who are responding in real time,' she wrote on X. 'My prayers are with the Hortman and Hoffman families. Both legislators are close friends and devoted to their families and public service.' Former Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords, a shooting survivor who now advocates for gun safety, said she was 'horrified and heartbroken' by the latest violence against lawmakers. 'An attack against lawmakers is an attack on American democracy itself,' she said in a statement. 'Leaders must speak out and condemn the fomenting violent extremism that threatens everything this country stands for.' The Brooklyn Park Police Department issued a shelter-in-place alert Saturday morning for an area surrounding the Edinburgh Golf Course in its quest for a suspect, NBC affiliate KARE 11 reported.
Axios
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Axios
Politicians condemn "horrific," "heinous" shootings of Minnesota state lawmakers
Leaders from across the political spectrum expressed shock and condemnation Saturday in the wake of "targeted" attacks in Minnesota that left a top Democratic state lawmaker dead and another hospitalized. The big picture: Minnesota House Democratic Leader Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed at their suburban Twin Cities home early Saturday in what officials described as a "politically motivated assassination" by an assailant who posed as a police officer. State Sen. John Hoffman, of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, and his wife were injured in a separate shooting at their residence roughly five miles away in Champlin. What they're saying: Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), who recalled door-knocking for Hortman's first legislative campaign in the early 2000s, called the shootings an "attack on everything we stand for as a democracy." "We must all condemn it," she said. "And we must refuse to be a country where anyone is silenced by threats or violence." U.S. Attorney Pam Bondi said the "horrific violence will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." Former President Biden wrote on X that such a" heinous attack motivated by politics should never happen in America. "We must give hate and extremism no safe harbor and we must all unite against political violence as a nation," he added. And House Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) condemned the "despicable act of political violence. "No public official — or any American — should fear for their safety in their own home. ... Justice must be served for the attacker still at large," he said on X. Zoom in: Rattled Minnesota politicians — including some who saw the two targeted Democrats at a fundraising dinner just hours before the attacks — remembered Hortman as a committed public servant who led with integrity and determination during her two decades in the state Legislature. "Melissa talked a lot about following the Golden Rule, and the value that 'to whom much is given, much is expected,'" the state House Democratic Caucus said in a joint statement. "She felt she had the ability and the obligation to serve others. And serve others she did." House Speaker Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring), who worked closely with Hortman as the two navigated a rare tie in the House this year, said her Democratic counterpart was "respected by everyone at the Capitol as a formidable advocate for her values and her caucus." "She battled fiercely, but never let it impact the personal bond that we developed serving as caucus leaders," Demuth said. Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy (DFL-St. Paul) mourned what she called a "unspeakably tragic day for Minnesotans, especially the many of us fortunate enough to know [the Hortmans] personally." "Melissa Hortman was a giant and a fierce leader. She made Minnesota a better place to live," Murphy said. "Her commitment has saved and improved lives. I will miss her, her mirthful eyes, her sharp humor and her partnership." "Melissa was a principled and effective leader who worked to bring balance to a divided legislature," GOP state Rep. Walter Hudson added on X, "Though we often stood on opposite sides of policy debates, she always treated me—and all her colleagues—with warmth, professionalism, and a genuine commitment to our state." Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison called his "brilliant" and "caring" friend of two decades "a force in Minnesota politics who understood what it meant to be a public servant." "She knew how to stand firm on her values but understood the importance of teamwork and compromise and never backed down from hard choices. She was tough, she was kind, and she was the best of us," he said in a statement.
9 News
a day ago
- Politics
- 9 News
Democrat leader killed in 'politically motivated assassination'
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here BREAKING Australian killed, another injured in Bali villa shooting incident A Democratic state representative and her husband have been shot and killed in "what appears to be a politically motivated assassination", Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said. Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were both killed in the attack in their home early on Saturday morning (Sunday AEST). Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were also targeted by the same individual and each shot multiple times, Walz said. They have undergone surgery and are alive. Senator John Hoffman and Representative Melissa Hortman were shot in what is being described as politically motivated attacks. (AP) "The Hoffmans are out of surgery at this time and receiving care, and we are cautiously optimally optimistic, they will survive this assassination attempt," the governor said. Both legislators are members of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party. The suspect is at large and a massive manhunt is underway, officials said at the news conference. "This is a very large scale search," Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said. "We have detained several people and questioned them, but we do not have anybody in custody at this time." Law enforcement was first called around 2am local time on Saturday with reports that someone had shot Hoffman and his wife. Police responded to their home and provided life-saving measures before the couple was transported to the hospital, according to Drew Evans, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension superintendent. Hortman and her husband were both killed in the attack on their home. (AP) At 3.35am, another call came in when officers were proactively checking on Hortman's home. When Brooklyn Park police officers arrived they noticed that there was a police vehicle in the driveway with emergency lights on and what appeared to be a police officer at the door, coming out of the house, officials said. That individual immediately fired a weapon at them, Evans said, and exchanged gunfire took place during which the suspect was able to escape. The Brooklyn Park Police Department, along with other law enforcement agencies from the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety State Patrol and FBI, and BCA are now actively engaged in a manhunt for the suspect they believe is responsible for both shootings, Evans said. Authorities are searching for a male wearing a vest with Taser, a badge and other equipment similar to that of a police officer, according to Bruley. The suspect is on foot. "If somebody comes to the door and they knock on the door claiming to be a police officer, please do a couple things: one, call 911 and confirm that the officer belongs there. If they are a police officer, dispatch will be able to confirm that that person is police officer," Bruley said, addressing the community. A heavy police presence has been deployed to find the gunman. (AP) "Also, we informed all our officers in Brooklyn Park that they are not to approach anybody by themselves. They're approaching pairs, meaning two officers." Walz has activated the State Emergency Operations Centre and a cross-jurisdictional Joint Information Centre has been established as the manhunt continues, according to the governor's spokesman Teddy Tschann. "Local law enforcement in Champlin and Brooklyn Park have the full resources of the State of Minnesota behind them. We are monitoring the situation closely and will share more information soon," Walz said in a post on X . The Brooklyn Park Police Department issued a shelter-in-place order for an area surrounding Edinburgh Golf Course on Saturday morning, according to the City of Brooklyn Park . The governor said the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and local law enforcement were on the scene. "This is a stunning act of violence. I'm thankful for all the law enforcement who are responding in real time," US Senator Klobuchar said in a post on X. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz speaks about the killing of Melissa Hortman and her husband. (AP) "My prayers are with the Hortman and Hoffman families. Both legislators are close friends and devoted to their families and public service." Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, now the head of national gun violence prevention organization GIFFORDS , said in a statement on Saturday that she was "horrified and heartbroken by last night's attack on two patriotic public servants." "My family and I know the horror of a targeted shooting all too well. An attack against lawmakers is an attack on American democracy itself," Giffords said. "Leaders must speak out and condemn the fomenting violent extremism that threatens everything this country stands for. World USA shootings police Gunman CONTACT US
The Age
a day ago
- Politics
- The Age
Democratic politician assassinated, another wounded in targeted overnight shootings
Washington: Two Democratic politicians in the US state of Minnesota have been shot in their homes in the middle of the night - one of them fatally, along with her husband - with police conducting a large-scale manhunt for the assassin. Melissa Hortman, a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, and her husband were shot and killed in their home in Brooklyn Park, Minneapolis about 2am on Saturday (Sunday AEST). Earlier in the night, the suspect shot state senator John Hoffman and his wife in the nearby suburb of Champlin. They underwent surgery in hospital and authorities were hopeful they would survive. The suspect impersonated a police officer and was now on the run, with residents in parts of Minneapolis instructed to shelter in place and not open the door to any lone individual appearing as a police officer. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz - who was Kamala Harris' running mate at last year's presidential election - said the killing of Hortman 'appears to be a politically motivated assassination'. 'An unspeakable tragedy has unfolded in Minnesota,' he said. 'Our state lost a great leader and I lost the dearest of friends. She is irreplaceable and will be missed by so many. 'This was an act of targeted political violence. Peaceful discourse is the foundation of our democracy. We don't settle our differences with violence or at gunpoint.' Both Hortman and Hoffman were members of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, which is affiliated with the Democratic Party.
